Krepin Gali Trek

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The awe-inspiring sublimeness of Krepin Gali ( 3884m)

Krepin Peak from Gugaldor


From the village of Gugaldur, Islamabad, the trail winds its way through the dense cedar forests alongside the course of Panzori stream. It was for the second time, I was back on this particular trail with high hope of be there on top of the pass. A year ago, I gave up halfway across the pass because I was dealing with anxiety and other issues, which left me mentally worn out. I only learned about my flaws and weaknesses in the mountains, which helped me become more mentally resilient and progress in life.


The sky was overcast in the morning, with no sign of sunshine. Through the forest, we ascended, passing the isolated dwellings at Nikki Hazi and heading north at Panzori, where the tree line starts to thin out. It sucked to have total whiteout conditions and poor visibility. 

Tree line fading out

And then, as we climb higher, we break through the cloud cover,  saw rugged peaks rising majestically and suddenly found ourselves above the clouds, with nothing but clear blue sky stretching out endlessly above us. The last 2-3 kms of the trail up to the pass is steep and over the loose rocks and it was covered with snow which added to its difficulty.  

At around 12pm, we were standing at the pass, with a panoramic view of Langnai valley on the other side and vale of Kashmir under the clouds behind us. The sensation of being above the clouds is surreal. It's like being on top of the world, with nothing but the mountains and the sky around you. The air feels different up here, somehow lighter and fresher, and the silence is profound, broken only by the occasional rustle of the wind. The crisp air and the views were breathtaking.

On our way down

From this vantage point, we could see miles in every direction, with valley under the clouds and distant peaks of Pir Panjal range looming on the horizon. It's a view that makes you feel small and insignificant in the grand scheme of things, but also incredibly alive and connected to the natural world. 


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